REV.
JAMES KENNEY is probably the oldest resident of East Bethlehem
township at the present writing. He is a grandson of William Kenney, a
native of Ireland, who, coming to America in an early day, located on
Brandywine river, in eastern Pennsylvania, when that locality was an
unbroken wilderness. He married a native of Ireland, and reared a family
of children, one of whom joined the British army, and the little home,
which had been won by years of privation, toil and danger, was
confiscated, leaving the parents penniless in their old age. The father
died at an advanced age, and was laid to rest beside the scenes of his
labor.

Benjamin Kenney, son of William, was born
on the farm in eastern Pennsylvania, and there passed his early boyhood,
being left a destitute orphan when very young. He was then bound out,
and while serving his apprenticeship learned the trade of stone mason,
which he followed almost all his life. He was married in Cumberland,
Md., to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Amelia Blair, who were pioneers
of Tennessee, whither they removed soon after the marriage of their
daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Kenney resided in Cumberland about six years,
during which time two daughters were born to them, Margaret and Mary,
both of whom are long since deceased. Some years after their marriage
Mr. and Mrs. Kenney came to Fayette county by way of the old
"Braddock road;" the journey was long and perilous, but the
family finally arrived in safety at their new home, where they resided
six years. Here other children were born to them, of whom John was the
only one who lived beyond infancy, and he died at the age of fourteen
years. In 1802 the parents packed their worldly possessions in a cart
drawn by one horse, and moved to Washington county, Penn. The father was
then about forty years of age, and had saved a small sum of money, which
he invested in a tract of land in East Bethlehem township, and continued
to follow his trade in connection with managing the farm. Slowly but
surely the little hoard of savings increased, and the farm was finally
given into the hands of James. After settling in Washington county, four
children were added to the family circle, namely; James, Wesley (a
brilliant clergyman and renowned theological scholar), William and
Rebecca, the latter three being now deceased. The father was a
Republican in politics, and served as one of the first constables of
Washington county. In religion he was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He died in March, 1843, followed by the widow January,
12, 1852; both were very old.

James Kenney was born January 11, 1806, in
East Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn., and attended the usual
log cabin, puncheon-floored and slab-seated schoolhouse of the period.
He has a vivid recollection of the severe old master who ruled with the
rod to a degree which would not now be tolerated, Mr. Kenney having seen
one young lady flogged until the blood trickled to the floor. As may be
supposed, the literary advantages of such an academy of learning were of
the most meager character, but these early obstacles were overcome by
young Kenney. He eagerly improved each opportunity, for his eyes were
upon a noble goal he wished to be a clergyman and with this aim in view
the lad carried his Bible to the field, perusing its pages while the
horses fed. In 1827 he was united in marriage with Ann, daughter of
William Sproat, and she bore him four children, viz.: William, a
prominent farmer of Ford county, Ill., Elizabeth (Mrs. Greenfield),
deceased; Cyrus, a fruit grower of lower California; and John Fletcher,
of Ford county, Ill. The mother of this family died in 1838, and on
February 5, 1839, the father was married to Patience, daughter of
Jonathan More, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died soon after
his return, from disease contracted in the army. To Mr. Kenney's second
marriage were born: Benjamin, Anna (Mrs. Freeman, of Florida, now
deceased), Margaret (wife of Wilson Ward), one who died in infancy,
James (living on the homestead), Sarah and Josephine (twins, living with
their parents), and Mary Manilla (wife of L. M. Cleaver). In 1841 Mr.
Kenney obtained a license to preach, and filled his first pulpit at
Liberty Chapel, near Washington borough; he had eight appointments in
his first circuit. He was never a member of a Conference, preferring to
remain at home, that he might superintend the rearing of his children.
For the past five years Rev. James Kenney has been preaching in the
Centreville M. E. Church; he is now eighty-seven years of age, his wife
being in her eighty-fourth year. He has erected all of the buildings
upon his farm. In politics he votes with the Republican party.

Commemorative
Biographical Record of Washington County, PA, 1893, page 1453

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